Heat mitigation ideas or the like for 1100cc engine?

[Doppelgaenger]

So with heat up in the 90s right now in the seattle area, riding the Breva is getting a bit too hot for comfort. The bike is also pinging at over 90 degrees but that's a separate issue.

The heat from the cylinder heads on my legs (both lower and upper) is getting to the point where I feel the chestnuts are roasting on an open fire and the trip I had planned to california in the beginning of august is being called into question because I don't know if I can take the heat for extended periods.

What do you do for the heat when a Guzzi is trying to bake you alive?

[not-fishing]

Yeah well down here in Sacra-tomato it's been over 100 and we even beat out Phoenix for the record.

I ride in the early morning and in the heat I take the as-few-as-possible-stops route.

It's supposed to be cooler for the Nata 2.2.

Remember it's a dry Mummifying Heat. 

[rodekyll]

Ceramic coating the hot parts will keep some of the radiated heat away from you.  Floorboards also deflect road and exhaust heat.

That's all I've got.

[guzzibob]

Mountains and coastline, both readily available from where you are. Northern Cal coast is very cool when temps are insane inland. Course, on those roads you won't be going hell for leather. But you can periodically head inland in some places for some twisties, then back to the coast when you can't stand the heat any longer.

[Kev m]

AIR FLOW - For the record this ISN'T a general Guzzi problem as I never experienced it on my Jackal or V7.

But something about ever tank shape and maybe conbined with oil cooler placement of my B11 made it a ball cooker. Anytime temps got over 80°F the crotch sweat made me reconsider riding it. If on those days I held a leg far enough away from the tank then it felt fine.

So I wonder if one couldn't fashion some sort of air foils to direct cooler ambient air back toward the rider.

Oh, and if you haven't already, get rid of the car-con in the colostomy bag and organic consider a Guzzitech reflash, they help a little, but it's still all airflow.

[lucydad]

Keep moving...avoid stop and go traffic...wear sweat wicking under wear...and drink a boat load of water...90F is nothing...

[Kev m]

Keep moving...avoid stop and go traffic...wear sweat wicking under wear...and drink a boat load of water...90F is nothing...

That's how different the B11 is from the V7.

At 40-50�F it's blocking enough wind and generating enough heat to keep the rider warm and toasty, but at 90�F it's ridiculous.

I used to ride the Sportster or Jackal instead by those temps because they were so much cooler.

[blackcat]

But something about ever tank shape and maybe combined with oil cooler placement of my B11 made it a ball cooker.

I always thought the oil cooler was the problem because the newer 8V Norge relocates the cooler and retains the same gas tank as the B11 but has eliminated or minimized the heat issue.

[Kev m]

I always thought the oil cooler was the problem because the newer 8V Norge relocates the cooler and retains the same gas tank as the B11 but has eliminated or minimized the heat issue.

I never figured it out for sure. There was no clear path from the oil cooler to rider under the tank or anything like that, but I still thought it probably contributed.

I also assumed the different bodywork of the Norge either blocked some of the oil cooler heat or just directed the airflow differently so it wasn't a problem.

I just never hear Norge riders with the same complaints or level of complaints.

[blackcat]

My 07 Norge is hot and is my only complaint about that bike. I have considered relocating the oil cooler with the later version but in the mean time I just ride one the other bikes when it gets too hot outside.

As a side note, I have never have a problem with pinging on that bike except when I ride it in the northeast and it's hot outside. I assumed the gas is the issue as it doesn't ping down here with equal or higher heat though stop and go driving might be the other factor in the NE.

[Kev m]

It would be interesting to compare a Norge and Breva side by side to see if the heat is the same.

[ohiorider]

Do 1200 Sport (2v) riders experience the same heat issues as B11 riders?  I don't find my 12S to be overly-warm, even in the 80s and 90s.  I recall that stock B11s have their cat converter located under the engine/tranny in what I think is the exhaust crossover area.  I think the 12S has the converter located rearward of the rider, in the slip on can.

[Kev m]

Yeah, the B11 cat was in the colostomy bag (crossover) and, as far as I know, that was the only big block to do that.

Thing is, I removed that from mine, but it only helped a little.

[ohiorider]

Heat must be a relative thing.  After riding my 1985 K100RS for 65,000 miles/4 years, I knew the meaning of heat.  If the crosswinds were blowing right to left, it'd leave the inside of my left thigh a rather rosy red by the end of the day.  At stop lights, I'd say a prayer it'd go green before the thermostatically controlled fan kicked in, and utter a curse when it didn't.

Since then, I've used memories of the bygone K100RS as my heat benchmark, and nothing I've owned since that time could match it.

Oh, and there was the full-faired K1100LT.  Wonderful winter bike.  A one season wonder for me.  Purchased in 1993, on the block spring of 1994.

[charlie b]

I had no heat issues at all on mine.  Until I installed the 'half' lowers on my SPIII fairing (they are cut off just above the valve covers).  Now I do get more heat on my legs.  The airflow seems to be 'concentrated' by the lowers to put air on my legs.  I may try installing a 'vent' to see if I can get rid of it.

Interesting is if I move my feet and knees about 2 inches outward I get nice cool air flow.

In certain cross winds there is no escape for the 'downwind' leg.

[toaster404]

On other bikes, I have carefully routed small diameter flexible pipe to send air where needed.  Zip ties.  Sometimes possible to hide reasonably well. 

[jas67]

AIR FLOW - For the record this ISN'T a general Guzzi problem as I never experienced it on my Jackal or V7.

But something about ever tank shape and maybe conbined with oil cooler placement of my B11 made it a ball cooker. Anytime temps got over 80�F the crotch sweat made me reconsider riding it. If on those days I held a leg far enough away from the tank then it felt fine.

So I wonder if one couldn't fashion some sort of air foils to direct cooler ambient air back toward the rider.

Oh, and if you haven't already, get rid of the car-con in the colostomy bag and organic consider a Guzzitech reflash, they help a little, but it's still all airflow.

I know own the B11 that Kev had.   I avoid riding it when the temps are going to be over 80, or the dew point approaching or exceeding 70.

I agree, it's definitely the airflow of the B11.    I don't have this issue with my V7.     And, like Kev, I've thought about making some sort of airfoils to direct cool air on the rider, or deflect the warm air away from the rider, but, I've got other bikes to ride when it is hot.

On the upside, the B11 is a great bike to ride in cold weather.

[Kev m]

Heat must be a relative thing. 

Yeah, sure it's a relative thing.

And I'm not talking about operating temperatures.

But when 5 other Harleys, 3 BMWs (airheads and an Oilhead), 2 other Guzzis, a Buell and a Ducati ALL are more comfortable to ride due to the heat in ambient temps above 80F than the Breva 1100 the relative thing to do is leave it at home in those temps.

And the really ironic thing is that at least one of those Harleys (my current EFI Sporty) PRODUCES about 100F HOTTER head temps than said Breva 1100... but I can ride the Harley in temps of 90F and not completely drench my shorts with crotch sweat (I apologize for the mental picture    ).

There is just something wonky about the design and airflow of the B11.

I'll admit, I usually kept the lowered Gel seat on mine, not because I needed the height, but because of the extreme comfort. That put me closer into the frame and probably exacerbated it, but I also rode it extensively with the standard height seat and it wasn't enough of a difference to swap it out when the days got hot.

Ultimately I still guess the solution would be better airflow management.

[charlie b]

It is interesting how relatively minor changes can make a huge difference.

[MotoGoosy]

It's a Guzzi, the heads are inches from your knees.  That's the design.

[oldbike54]

It's a Guzzi, the heads are inches from your knees.  That's the design.

 Uh , your knees are only a few inches away from every MC engine cylinder heads except for pancake or slopers designs .

  Dusty

[Kev m]

It's a Guzzi, the heads are inches from your knees.  That's the design.

Nope, if THAT ALONE was the issue then I would have the same experience on my OTHER GUZZIS so it must be something else.